The growth of spam has been increasing significantly in recent years. What many people may not realize is that they are perpetuating this cycle by common actions they perform on the Internet. By understanding how the marketers get your e-mail address in the first place, you will better be able to protect yourself and people you communicate with.
First, understand that your e-mail address is worth money to marketing companies. The addresses are sold to other companies over and over again. As more are found, they get added into the mix.
There are a few things you should NOT do:
- Sign a guestbook with a personal, often-used e-mail address.
- Forward chain-letters and other hoaxes to increase your karma
- Reply to the marketer
- Purchase the items for sale from the marketer
Most of the things listed above will promote more e-mail. The main thing is to never purchase items for which you receive spam! Do not go to web sites for these products, and do not link to them. Stop the flow of money and reduce the value of spam as a whole.
Ok, well, what CAN you do? Easy... stay informed. Information is the single-best way to combat practically any problem -- spam is no exception. You might have to change some of your online habits, however, that is a small price to pay in the "grand scheme of things." Try the following:
- Start using the blind carbon copy (BCC:) field to send e-mails to multiple mailboxes. This will hide and protect their address.
- Update anti virus and anti-spyware applications (might be trite to mention, however, it's commonly overlooked).
- Create "throw-away" accounts at free e-mail sites. Use these accounts for signing up for freebie things on the 'Net.
- Ask a person if you can forward something to them. Never assume that your friend want you to sign them up for anything on the Internet. Jokes, work-at-home, urban legends.. none of these are good enough to alienate your friend over. Ask first, it's they're address, not yours.
- If you simply must put your e-mail address on a post somewhere on the Internet, munge it (obfuscate it) such as: "name (a-t) anon dot org".
- Stay informed. Check out the sites listed below for more information.
Good Luck!
For more information:
SpamCon Foundation
http://www.spamcon.org/Coalition Against Unsolicited Email
http://www.cauce.org/Email Abuse.org
http://www.emailabuse.org